Resident urges Mercer County to require independent impact studies before rezoning for data centers

Linette Irwin, a Mercer County resident, told the commission during public comment that the county should not rezone agricultural land to industrial until it establishes a formal framework for evaluating hyperscale data center projects. "Do not rezone agricultural land to industrial until a full framework is in place," Irwin said, calling for an applicant‑funded, independent analysis of environmental, social and economic impacts, conducted under contract with the county and accompanied by public hearings and written reports that include public comment.

The request followed a presentation earlier in the meeting by North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality Director Dave Glatt, who provided an overview of data center water usage and outlined responsibilities among state, local and data center entities. The exchange underscored a gap commissioners and attendees identified between the pace of interest from data center proponents and the county's formal land‑use review procedures.

Commissioner Casey Voigt addressed concerned citizens later in the session, explaining the roles of the commission and the county planning and zoning board in land‑use matters and indicating that the boards follow established procedures for rezoning and permitting. The transcript does not record the commission adopting any immediate policy changes; no rezoning vote or ordinance was taken on May 6. Next steps, as presented in the meeting, involve continued work by planning and zoning and requests for additional information before any formal rezoning action is initiated.

Why it matters: Hyperscale data centers can add substantial new water, energy and land‑use demands to rural counties. County residents and officials asked that environmental and community impacts be independently assessed and publicly reviewed before land‑use designations are changed.